Iran has launched large-scale military drill on Monday involving Iran’s Army and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps.

The joint maneuver will be conducted in an area of more than 850,000 square kilometers in country’s north-east, east and south-east.

A seven-day massive exercise will involve radar air defense and missile systems as well as 8,000 troops, Russian Golos Rossii reported.

Tehran maintains that the maneuvers are defensive in nature and meant to convey a message of peace and friendship to regional countries, Iran’s Press TV said.